(Minghui.org) Since the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) began its brutal persecution 22 years ago, Falun Gong practitioners have never stopped their efforts to expose it. Their peacefulness and persistence have won the respect and support of the public all over the world.
To mark the 22nd anniversary of their peaceful resistance of the CCP’s persecution, practitioners in Toronto, Canada, held a rally and parade on July 17, 2021, to call for justice and the end of the CCP.
Several people commented that it is time to end the CCP and stop the persecution of Falun Gong.
The two-hour-long parade was held in downtown Toronto. The parade was led by the Tian Guo Marching Band and passed through the busiest streets in Toronto. The parade consisted of different sections with topics of “Falun Dafa is Good,” “Stop Persecution,” and “Quit the CCP.”
Falun Dafa is Good.
Stop the Persecution.
Quit the CCP and its Affiliated Organizations.
Toronto Musician: It’s Time to End the Chinese Communist Party and Stop Persecuting Falun Gong!
Toronto Musician Aeegam
Aeegam, a Toronto musician, stopped and watched the parade. He said, “It's time to end the CCP and stop persecuting Falun Gong!”
“The music of the Tian Guo Marching band is so beautiful, and the band is so neat and well-coordinated. They caught my attention,” he said.
“I know this parade is to call for an end to the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners,” he said. “The principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance are the essential characteristic that human beings should have. I cannot understand why the CCP would persecute people who believe in these principles. Why does the CCP have to persecute such good people? Falun Gong practitioners should never be persecuted because of their faith. Their practice is peaceful and tranquil and does not affect anyone or create any problems. They definitely have the freedom to practice it. It’s time to end the CCP and stop persecuting Falun Gong.”
Egem asked a practitioner what he could do to help end the CCP and the persecution. The practitioner suggested he share the leaflet with his family and friends, write letters to VIPs and urge them to call for an end to the persecution.
Egem said he would definitely spread the message and speak up for Falun Gong, and he would sign the online petition to end the CCP.
Chinese from Shanghai: I Didn’t Know What Falun Gong Was Until I Went Abroad.
A Chinese from Shanghai videotaped the entire parade. He said, “I admire and respect Falun Gong practitioners for their persistence in protesting the persecution during the past 22-long years. I admire them very much.”
He said, “I have lived outside of China for almost 20 years. In China, there was only one voice, and that was the state-controlled media’s propaganda. Chinese people have no resources for the truth. I was brainwashed, just like other Chinese when I was in China, so I had a bad impression of Falun Gong. But I met Falun Gong practitioners several times in Canada, and I felt that they were not like what the CCP had propagated.”
“Since then, I started to learn more about Falun Gong. I found it is a group of people who follow the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. I also learned about the persecution.” He added, “In mainland China, the CCP holds the knife, and all Chinese people are just fish on its plate. I chose to leave China after I realized this.”
Asked why he recorded the parade, he said he wanted to share the information with his friends so they can also learn more about Falun Gong.
Chinese in Canada: CCP Should Not Persecute People Believing in Falun Gong
Daniel Huang who grew up in Canada said, “I now have a deeper understanding of Falun Gong.”
Originally from China, Daniel Huang watched the parade and said, “I don’t know much about what is happening in China as I came to Canada when I was very young. After learning the truth about how practitioners are being persecuted by the CCP, I now have a deeper understanding of Falun Gong.”
He said, “Falun Gong’s concept of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is righteous and upright. The CCP should not persecute people who believe in Falun Gong.”
Mr. Gong, from Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, said, “It is very difficult to find out the truth about Falun Gong inside China. I didn’t know about the persecution of Falun Gong until I left China. I first read about the reports of persecution on The Epoch Times website. At first, I didn’t believe it. But after I learned more about it, I found the facts of persecution were unbelievable and cruel.”
He agreed to quit the CCP and its affiliated organizations after a practitioner explained why people should void the oath they made to give their lives to the CCP.
Research Assistant: I Support Falun Gong Practitioners’ Protest Against Persecution
Ms. Ivy Tuong (left), a research assistant at the University of Western Ontario, expressed her support for Falun Gong practitioners
Ms. Ivy Tuong, a research assistant at the University of Western Ontario, watched the parade with her colleague. She said, “The march was spectacular and peaceful, and we all enjoyed it.”
“I heard about Falun Dafa for the first time today. I read the leaflet and appreciate the information, such as the importance of finding one’s true self and one’s inner balance through practicing and meditating.” She said, “Falun Gong practitioners follow Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance to improve themselves. The CCP should not persecute them. I signed the petition to support them in their protest against the persecution, resist the CCP, and end the persecution.”
International Student from Iran: The CCP Is Still Doing Evil Deeds
Sherina (left), an international student from Iran plans to learn more about the persecution.
Sherina, an international student from Iran, watched the parade with a friend. She said, “One of my university professors is Chinese who often repeats the CCP's propaganda in class. But today, I saw a completely different scene, and it turns out that the CCP is still doing evil all the time. I heard about the CCP’s suppression of other faith groups before, but it was the first time I had heard of the persecution that has lasted so long. It was shocking.” Both Sherina and the friends said they would go online to learn more about the persecution.
Toronto Resident: The Persecution of Falun Gong Is Intolerable
Mr. Barry a Toronto resident, said, “I saw Falun Gong practitioners in Ottawa many years ago and knew about their protest in front of the Chinese Consulate. It is intolerable that the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners continues after all these years. I am also a person with a belief. My family members have learned about Falun Gong before, and we know about your peaceful activities.”
Ms. Frances, who watched the parade, said, “One of my friends practices Falun Gong. She told me about meditation, the persecution, and the live organ harvesting of Falun Gong practitioners. My goodness, there are still such things happening today. I often pray to God to bless you and also to stop this persecution immediately.”
Visitor from Central America: Communism Is Evil
A tourist from Nicaragua told a practitioner he learned about the persecution before but he was surprised to learn that the persecution has gone on for 22 years. He said, “I believe in God, and I know that the CCP is restricting and persecuting many beliefs. The CCP has done many evil things in China and persecuted and killed many Chinese people. That is communism. Communism is evil and prohibits freedom.”
A passerby watched the parade for a long time. He burst into tears when he saw the photos of Falun Gong practitioners who were persecuted to death. He said, “I knew about the persecution of Falun Gong before. The persecution has been going on for such a long time. The CCP has even done things like removing the organs of Falun Gong practitioners while they are alive. The CCP’s rule is just dark. You will learn these truths if you can wake up. This persecution must stop!”
Background: What Is Falun Gong?
Falun Gong (also known as Falun Dafa) was first introduced to the public by Mr. Li Hongzhi in Changchun, China in 1992. The spiritual discipline is now practiced in over 100 countries and regions worldwide. Millions of people have embraced the teachings—which are based on the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance as well as five gentle exercises—and experienced uplifted health and well-being.
Jiang Zemin, former head of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), perceived the spiritual discipline's growing popularity as a threat to the CCP's atheistic ideology and on July 20, 1999, issued an order to ban the practice.
Minghui.org has confirmed the deaths of thousands of practitioners as a result of the persecution over the past 22 years. The actual number is believed to be much higher. More have been imprisoned and tortured for their faith.
There is concrete evidence that the CCP sanctions the harvesting of organs from detained practitioners, who are murdered to supply the organ transplant industry.
Under Jiang's personal direction, the CCP established the 610 Office, an extralegal security organization with the power to override the police and judicial systems and whose sole function is to carry out the persecution of Falun Dafa.
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Category: July 20 Events
